How to Root and Install TWRP on Huawei P8 On EMUI 4.0/3.0 [Unlock Bootloader]

The Huawei P8 has been receiving Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow firmware update in many countries across the globe. This is an upgrade to the EMUI 4.0 from the EMUI 3.0 which was Android 5.1 Lolipop based. It brings many new features, bug fixes, security patches from the AOSP source code, and of course all the Marshmallow goodies like doze mode, app permissions, and lots more. However, once you update 2 to EMUI 4.0, you will lose root access, mods, TWRP recovery, and all the modifications have done to the system. Hence, here is a brief tutorial on how you can root, install custom TWRP recovery, and most importantly unlock the bootloader on your Huawei P8 device. This tutorial works for most of the Huawei P8 variants. However, it has not been tested on all the Huawei P8 devices. Hence, you should be cautious about it. The procedure is the same for all Huawei devices, you just need the proper TWRP recovery. You can check out the source and discuss it.

Summary: First you need to unlock the bootloader on your Huawei P8 device officially from Huawei or EMUI and receive an unlock code. once unlocked, it is time to flash the custom TWRP recovery. For that, setup or install ADB and Fastboot environment onto a Windows, Linux or Mac machine. Install latest USB drivers from Huawei. Enter the commands listed in the tutorial and unlock the bootloader. Wait for the phone to reboot. Download and Flash the latest TWRP recovery commands listed in the tutorial. Then download and Flash SuperSU using TWRP (reboot phone and enter recovery mode. hold power, vol up and home) Also, keep a copy of the latest stock firmware available for your device just in case anything goes wrong.

Disclaimer: Unlocking the bootloader, rooting or installing a custom recovery will all void your warranty. Even though this has been tested on other Huawei devices, we won’t be responsible for anything you do with this. You will lose data, apps, etc. Hence, backup. Reader’s discretion is advised.

How to Unlock the Bootloader on Your Huawei P8?

To successfully unlock the bootloader on your Huawei P8 device, you first need the unlock code/password from Huawei/EMUI. This confirms that your device is officially permitted by the manufacturer to be unlocked and your warranty will be void. There are a couple of ways to obtain the unlock code and these come officially from Huawei and EMUI team. First, you can sign up for the Unlock bootloader program from the EMUI portal and enter all the necessary product details and receive an unlock code. Secondly, you can mail the Huawei team to send you a unlock code for your device. You can check out the two methods in detail from this tutorial about unlocking bootloader on Huawei devices. You will need your device IMEI number, Serial number and Product ID handy with you. These codes can be found on your box, or from About Phone>Settings, the back of the phone or by dialing *#06# via dialler. Once you have the unlock code, follow the tutorial below.

How to Install TWRP and Root Huawei P8 [Unlock Bootloader]

This will unlock the bootloader and setup TWRP recovery on your Huawei P8 and ultimately root it.

Prerequisites

1. Verify your device for compatibility. Get the latest TWRP build for your device for your Huawei P8. Also, all Android devices require unlocked bootloader in order to flash the TWRP recovery. the method is listed in below, but for that make sure you have the unlock code as listed above.

2. Enable USB Debugging on your device. To do so, go to Settings>About Phone> Tap on the Build Number several times until you get a new Developer Options in theSettings. Open Developer Options and enable USB Debugging from there. Trust the connection by allowing it when you connect it to your PC for the first time.

Installation Instructions:

Step 1: Make sure you have successfully issued the Unlock code from the manufacturer. Download the TWRP image and the SuperSU package from above. Now transfer the file to your PC where you can easily locate it. Also, place the SuperSU in the internal storage of your Huawei device.

If you have installed the quick ADB installer, launch a command prompt or terminal window where you have placed the TWRP image. To do so, just click the address bar and type cmd and press Enter key. Alternatively, hold the shift key on the keyboard and right-click on an empty space and select “Open command window here” option to launch a cmd window.

Step 3: Now reboot into the bootloader, issue the following commands in the terminal. (If ADB does not detect your device try switching your phone’s USB mode from Charging to MTP. Also, check the connectivity by using code “adb devices”)

adb reboot-bootloader

Alternatively, to boot into the bootloader or Fastboot mode, turn off your device and then press and hold volume down + the power button simultaneously for a few seconds. When you see the bootloader screen, connect your device to the PC using a USB cable.(Choose Fastboot if option is available) For an alternative method look at the end of this tutorial.

Step 4: Once into the bootloader or fastboot mode, issue the following command in the command prompt to check your device connectivity. It should display device id.

fastboot devices

Step 5: Once done, its is time to unlock the bootloader. Now issue the following command to unlock the Bootloader on your device. Replace “<unlock CODE>” with the one you received from Huawei/EMUI.

fastboot oem unlock <unlock CODE>

Note: Here, the number is the unlock password you received from the method above. You will also lose ll your data and apps. For Linux or iOS commands, look below.

Step 6: Now reboot your device once and boot back into the Bootloader using the same procedure. Time to flash the TWRP recovery.

Step 7: Navigate to the location where you have placed the TWRP image file. While the folder with twrp-2.8.7.1-p8.img file is open, launch command prompt or terminal.

Step 8: Now flash the recovery image. Issue the following command for that.

fastboot flash recovery twrp-2.8.7.1-p8.img

Step 11: Wait until the recovery gets installed.

Once the operation completes, you can now enjoy your new recovery. Alternatively, while, on Linux or Mac OS, you can issue “./fastboot flash recovery.img” command to flash the file.

How to Root Huawei P8 Using TWRP?

Once you setup TWRP on your device, reboot into it. To reboot the phone and enter recovery mode, hold power, vol down. Once into the TWRP, take a full Nandroid backup (Tap backup and select all partitions). Once backup completes, flash SuperSU using TWRP. Tap Install and flash. That’s it. For detailed tutorial and alternate methods to flash the TWRP recovery, click here.

Linux or iOS commands to unlock the bootloader.

In order to unlock bootloader while connected to the Mac or Linux machine, you can issue the following command through your terminal, First setup ADB and Fastboot environment on your PC from requirements and then issue the following command: